Tubing catcher



May 24, 1932. CRIPPEN 1,859,654

TUBING GATCHER Filed July 23, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwomkov Patented May 24, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK N. CRIPPEN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GUIBERSON CORPORATION, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF DELAXVARE TUBING CATCHER Application filed July 23, 1930. Serial No. 470,106.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tubing catchers.

One object of the invention is to provide a tubing catcher wherein the slips are arranged in stepped groups operating on super-posed heads, whereby the catching contact is spread over an amplified area and not only the shock distributed, but the danger of distortion greatly reduced.

A further object of the invention is to arrange stepped groups of gripper slips in connection with a spring poised weight whereby the slips will be actuated in unison and equal gripping carried out.

Still another object of the invention is to provide gripper slips in stepped groups so that those of one step overlap those of the adjacent step or steps, whereby the transverse arouate faces may be made to a maximum width and also whereby the slips may be arranged in pairs rather than in groups of more than two.

less number of connections with the weight is required and the device may be much easier assembled and the number of parts reduced.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together wit-h other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a catcher constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same,

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view,

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1, and Figure 5 is a similar view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1, while Figure 6 is a like view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail showing the manner of connecting the slips with the weight links, V

Figure 8 is an elevation of the upper portion of a catcher similar to Figure 1 and employs dove tail guides for the slips,

Figure 9 is a plan view of the same, and

Figure 10 is a horizontal cross sectional- View taken on the line 10-1O of Figure 8.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a tubular section which may form part of the well tubing. The section 10 has a collar 11 at its lower end while at its upper end it may have any form of connection as a neck 12 provided with a socket 13. The section is formed with a plurality of super-posed heads 14, three being illustrated.

Each of the heads is formed with upwardly inc-lined overhanging faces 15. These faces are diametrically opposed and each is transversely curved concentrically to the vertical axis of the section 10. The faces of the middle head are located at right angles to the faces of the upper and lower heads.

On each face 14 is mounted a gripper slip 16 having its inner side 17 curved, as is best shown in Figures 4:, 5 and 6. These slips rest uponinclined shoulders 18 and 19 respectively, the shoulders 18 beingformed at the upper ends of the two lowermost heads and the shoulders 19 being formed on the upper side of an annular collar 20. The inner curved faces of the slips have the same radius as the upper part vof the faces 14 so that when said slips are displaced upwardly, they will contact and lie flat against the curved surfaces of said faces, thus assuring a substantialsupport.

A coiled spring 21 resting on the collar 11 surrounds thesection 10 and telescopes into the counter-bore 22 of a cylindrical weight member 23 which is slidable upon the pipe section 10. y telescoping the spring into the lower end of the weight member, th length of the catcher is reduced and a more compact device'is had. The spring is of such length as to be compressed to a slight extent by the weight member when it is in its lowermost position. 7

Thin metal straps orlinks 24. extend upwardly from a reduced collar 25 on the upper end of the weight. These straps are rigidly attached to the collar and extend through slots 26 in the collar 20. These straps have their upper ends embedded in recesses 27 in the rear sides of the middle slips 16 to which they are rigidly attached.

Thin flat links 28 connect the top and bottom slips and are fastened in recesses 29 in the back of said slips whereby the top and bottom slips are connected in tandem. The slips are not pivoted but are rigidly attached to the straps and links. The lower slips 16 are connected by straps 30 with the collar 25 of the weight member and extend through slots 31 in the collar 20. It will be seen that the slips will all move in unison and are positively connected to the weight so that upon movement of the weight all of the slips are moved. Or, upon the movement of one of the slips all of the rest of the slips will be moved.

The straps are made of resilient metal so as to permit the slips to spread as they ride upwardly on the faces 14. The slips have arcuate teeth 32 on their outer faces struck on such an ark as to conform with the inner periphery of the casing and thereby effectually bite into the same when displaced. In order to hold each pair of slips in position, each slip has a groove 33 for receiving a split retaining ring 34 which is countersunk below the teeth, as is shown in Figure 7. Of course any other means might be used for retaining the slips.

In Figures 8 to 10 inclusive, I have shown a modified form in which the faces 14 of the heads are made flat and are provided with dove tail guides 141. The slips 16 have flat faces for riding on the faces 14 and are provided with grooves I42 for receiving the guides 141. No retaining rings are needed with this form, but otherwise the structure is the same. Y

In using the catcher it is connected in the string of tubing by means of the collar 11 and the socket 13, or any other suitable connections, and is locatedin the string whereever found desirable. Usually the catcher is located near the bottom of the string but its location may be changed and more than one catcher may be used in a string if desired. However, the catcher is always located with in the casing. Normally the slips 16 will be withdrawn within the diameter of the heads 14 and the collar 20 and will not engage the casing when in such position, thus permltting the catcher and the string of tubing to be freely moved up and down in the casing. The resilient retaining rings 34 will hold the slips snugly about the faces 14; and by inclining the lower ends of the slips and the shoulders 18 and 19 inwardly, the slips cannot be easily displaced and of course cannot be swung outwardly unless moved upwardly.

If the tubing above the neck 12 should break at any point in the string or should one of the couplings of the string be stripped, or should the string be dropped, the operation will be as follows: The inertia of the weight member 23 accentuated by the tendency of the slightly compressed spring 80 to expand, will cause said weight to momentarily remain relatively stationary or suspended and thus maintain its position. The heads let and the tubing section 10' however being attached to the falling string of tubing, will tend to descend more rapidly. The inert weight will support the slips 16 by reason of the straps 24 and 30 and the links 28 and consequently the heads 14 with their faces 15 will move downwardly within the slips, whereby the latter will be displaced laterally because of such movement and the inclination of the faces.

The resilient rings will permit the slips to move outwardly and the sharp teeth 32 will quickly bite into the inner wall of the easing, thereby arresting the parts and holding the catcher against a further drop. Usually this action will be very rapid and the catch will be made within the distance ofafew inches, so far as the catcher itself is concerned. Casing is often dented or otherwise distorted and its inner surface is frequently coated with heavy oil or parafiin. It will be seen that the teeth must be sharp and the action will be positive to prevent damage.

By employing three sets of slips at different elevations, amplegripping surface is provided. Each slip may be made of such an area as to act on a goodly portion of the inner surface of the casing and even bridge dents or distortions, by staggering the slips that relatively overlap circumferentially of the catcher. Should the center slips fail to act because of the bulge in the casing, the upper and lower slips are still available. Where the slips act there is less load imposed upon each slip and the teeth are less likely to be broken off. The slips being connected in common to the weight 23 and being free from pivots are not only more positive in their action, but must act in unison, thus if one slip operates, all of the slips will operate.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well as modifications and alterations, may be made within the scope of the appended claim.

hat I claim is:

In a well tubing catcher, a support adapted to be connected to a string of tubing, superposed heads mounted on the support and each having a plurality of circumferentially spaced upwardly inclined guide faces, gripper slips mounted on said heads in contact with said faces, a slidable weight mounted on the support below the heads, a coiled spring surrounding the support andupon which the weight rests, a plurality of connections between the upper end of the weight and the slips rigidly attached to the slips and rigidly attached to the weight, whereby all the slips are connected in common with the weight for movement in, unison, all of said connections being resilient, and resilient rings connecting the slips of each head, the connections all being located within the diameter of the heads so as not to contact with the tubing.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERICK N. CRIPPEN. 

